Costume accessory



E. F. GOELLER 2,258,112

COSTUME ACCESSORY Filed March 8, 1940 zimhwzm ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 7,1941 12 Claims.

with a. novel costume accessory which makes possible the use of flowersas a personal ornament. y

The new accessory may take various forms and, in each instance, includesmeans by which the stem of a flower may beclamped to a member which isprovided with means by which it may be secured to the clothing or theperson. Thus, in one embodiment of the invention, the mem ber may be abox-like structure of appropriate outline, for instance, oval, andprovided with a strap, so that the accessory, may be worn as a bracelet.In the upper surface of the structure are openings and within. it is aplate closing the openings and having portions lying beneath overhangingparts of the wall of the structure adjacent the openings. Within the,structure are spring means urging the plate to closing position and theplate has a conveniently accessible part by which it may be ,moved backagainst the action of the spring means, such part being formed, forexample, asa projection extending I through one of the openings. Whenpressure is applied to the accessible part of the plate to move it back,the stems of flowers may beinserted between the portions of the plateand, the overhanging parts of the wall of the structure adjacent theopenings. When the plate is then released, those portions of the plateand the overhanging parts of the Wall act as a means for clamping thestems and holding them in position.

If desired, the construction may be such that the I stems are insertedthrough the openings, in which case, a pad of absorbent material may beplaced within the accessory in position to be engaged by the insertedstems, and by moistening gthe pad, the flowers carried by the accessorywillbe kept fresh for a considerable period.

In other forms of the device, the accessory may be provided with a pinor clip so that it"may be attached to the dress and serve as a broochinstead of a bracelet. Also, other expedients may be employed, in placeof the spring-pressed plate with projections, for securing the flowersin posi{- tion. l

' Fora better understanding of the invention, reference may be made tothe accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a sectional View on theline l,l of Fig. 2 of one form of the accessory of the invention;

FWU NITE D; STATES PATENT oF CE". co mifiillsgm Edward Ford'Goeller, NewYork, N. Y. Application March s, 1940, Serial No. 322,964

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the accessory shown in Fig. 1; L Fig. 3 is asectional View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; I Fig. 4 is a plan view ofamodified construction; w Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the-line 5-5 ofFig. 4; r v I Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional-view of another form ofthe device; Fig. 7 is a'plan view of the accessory shown Fig.6; and Fig.8 is a longitudinal sectional view of an.- other form of the newaccessory. Y

Referring to the drawing, the accessory shown in Figs. 1, 2 and-3includes a box-like structure Hlwhich may be made of anysuitablematerial, such as a metal or a plastic. Thisstruoture may be ofany desired outline and is .ordinarilyrelae tively shallow. Thestructure is most con; veniently madein two parts, upper and lower,secured together along their edges, and the upper part has a pluralityof openings ll, here shown as a group of six arranged. around a centralopen ing. Within the structure is a plate l2 provided with projectionsl3 receivable in the outer openings H and a longer central projection 14extending through the centralv opening. A spring l5 bearing against thelower part of the struc; ture and the inner end of projection l4 urgesthe plate outward so thatthe smaller projections lie within theiropenings. 1 V A At its ends, the structure has straps lB fattachedthereto, one of the sraps carrying a buckle I1, so that the straps maybe used to secure the accessory on the wrist, where it has the appearance of a bracelet. Within the structure above the plate l2 may beinserted, a pad of absorbent material, such as cotton. In the use of theaccessory shown inFig. 1, the projection I4 is pressed down to depressthe plate and the pad moistened through one of the openings H. The stems[8 of the flowers to be used are then cut off close to the heads I9 andinserted through the openings. When each open ing has received the stemsof the desired. number of flowers, the projection I4 is released and theThe accessory may with three openings 2| in its upper surface. A plate22 is attached to a pin 23 mounted in the upper surface of the structurecentrally of the openings and has three cut-outs in its rim. Adjacentone side of each opening on the surface of the structure is a cam 24 andwhen the pin is rotated, the sections 25 of the plate between thecut-outs ride up the cams and then drop down over the openings. When theopenings are exposed, the stems 26 of flowers may be inserted throughthe openings, and on further rotation of the plate, its sections clampthe stems against the edges of the openings and secure the flowers inplace. Further rotation of the plate by accident is then prevented bythe cams. The boxlike structure may be provided with any suitableattaching means, such as the straps [6 shown in Fig. 1, or a pin orclip.

In the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the box-like structure has abase 21 and a periph- .eral flange 28 provided with openings 29. Mountedfast on a pin 30 extending through the base 21 is a plate 3| having aperipheral flange 32 with openings 33 registering with openings 29. Thepin has an enlarged head 34 above the plate 3| and it extends throughthe base, the latter having an indented portion 35 with an opening forthe pin. The pin also extends through a leaf spring 36 beneath the baseand terminates in a head 31 engaging the spring. Adjacent the pointwhere it passes through the base, the pin has longitudinal fins 33 andthe opening through the base is formed with radial slots for passage ofthe fins.

When the Fig. 6 form of the device is to be used, the pin is raisedagainst the compression of the spring to lift the plate and is thenturned slightly so that the ends of the fins pass over the inner surfaceof the base. The pin may then be released and the flns hold the platefrom .being drawn down into the structure by the spring. The stems orflowers are now inserted through openings 2:? and 33 in the respectiveflanges and when the desired number of flowers has been placed inposition, the pin is turned back, so that the fins overlie the slots,and then released, so that the spring will pull on the pin and hold theplate in innermost position. The edges of the registering openings inthe flanges clamp the flower stems between them and hold the flowers inposition.

In the construction shown in Fig. 8, the boxlike structure has a base 38and a peripheral flange 39 with openings QB in the edge thereof. A platehaving a base 4! with a peripheral flange with openings 43 is secured tothe structure by a spring 44 bent upon itself and having one branchattached to each of the bases 38, 4!. At their free edges, the bases maybe provided with cooperating parts 45, G6 forming a catch if desired.This form of the device is used in the same manner as the others, thestructure and plate being first separated to permit flower stems to beinserted through the registering openings in the flanges, after whichthe structure and plate are secured together so that the stems areclamped by the edges of the openings.

The new accessory may be made in various shapes and of variousmaterials, so that it has an attractive decorative appearance, whetheror not flowers are being carried. When provided with flowers, theaccessory forms a novel ornament which, by proper choice of flowers, maybe worn with different costumes with striking effect.

I claim:

1. A costume accessory which comprises a boxlike structure having anopening in a wall thereof, means by which the structure may be attachedto the clothing or person, a closure member within the structure closingsaid opening and having portions overlain by the wall of the structureadjacent the opening, and spring means within the structure urging themember to closing position and tending to force said portions intocontact with the overlying wall to provide a clamp for a flower steminserted between one of said portions and said wall, said member havinga part accessible from outside the structure for moving the memberagainst the action of said spring means to separate said portion fromsaid overlying wall.

2. A costume accessory which comprises a boxlike structure having anopening in a surface thereof, means by which the structure may beattached to the clothing or person, a member within the structure havinga part adapted to close the opening and to clamp a flower stem insertedthrough the opening against the edge of the latter, a spring within thestructure acting on the plate to urge it to closing position, and meansattached to the member by which the latter may be moved away fromclosing position.

3. A costume accessory which comprises a box? like structure having aplurality of Openings on its upper surface, means by which the structuremay be attached to the clothing or person, a member within the structurehaving projections receivable in the openings and cooperable with theedges thereof to grip. flower stems inserted through the openings, andspring means within the structure urging the member to a position inwhich its projections lie within the openings.

4. A costume accessory which comprises a boxlike structure having aplurality of openings on its upper surface, means by which the structuremay be attached to the clothing or person, a member within the structurehaving projections receivable in the openings and cooperable with theedges thereof to grip flower stems inserted through the openings, andspring means within the structure urging the member to a position inwhich its projections lie within the openings, one of the projectionsnormally lying above the surface of the structure.

5. A costume accessory which comprises a hollow'member having an openingin one wall, an element mounted on the hollow member and having aportion cooperating with the edge ofthe opening, when the element is inone position relative to the member, to clamp a flower stem insertedthrough the opening, means for holding the element in said position, andmeans secured to the member by which the accessory can be attached tothe clothing or the person.

6. A costume accessory which comprises a hollow member having an openingin one wall, an element movably mounted on the member and having aportion cooperating with the edge of the opening, when the element is inone position, to clamp a flower stem inserted through the openin andmeans for holding the element in said position.

7. A costume accessory which comprises a hollow member having'an openingin one wall, a plate pivotally mounted on the member and having aportion cooperatingiwith the edge'of theopening, when the element is inone position, to clamp a flower stem inserted through the opening, andmeans for holding the element in said position.

8. A costume accessory which comprises a member having a peripheralflange with an opening therein, an element mounted on the member andhaving a peripheral flange adjacent the flange on the member, theelement having a portion cooperating with the edge of the opening, whenthe element is in one position, to clamp a flower stem inserted throughthe opening, and means for holding the element in said position.

9. A costume accessory which comprises a member having a peripheralflange with an opening therein, an element mounted on the member andhaving a peripheral flange adjacent the flange on the member, theelement having a portion cooperating with the edge of the opening, whenthe element is in one position, to clamp a flower stem inserted throughthe opening, and a spring acting on the element to urge it toward saidposition.

10. A costume accessory which comprises a member having a peripheralflange with an opening therein, an element having a peripheral flange, apin securing the member and element together with their flanges onewithin the other, and a spring acting on the pin to urge the member andelement together, the flange on the element cooperating with the edge ofthe opening in the member to clamp a flower stem inserted in theopening.

11. A costume accessory which comprises a member having a peripheralflange with an opening therein, an element having a peripheral flange, aspring urging the element and member together, the flange on the elementcooperating with the edge of the opening to clamp a flower stem insertedthrough the opening, and means for securing the element and membertogether.

12. A costume accessory which comprises a hollow box-like structurehaving an opening in the upper wall thereof, means secured to thestructure by which it may be attached to the clothing or person, aclosure member within the structure closing said opening and havingportions overlain by the wall of the structure adjacent the opening,spring means within the structure urging the member to closing positionwith at least one of said portions in contact with the overlying wall ofthe structure, and a part of said member accessible through said openingfor moving the member against the action of said spring means toseparate said portion from said overlying wall and permit the insertionof a flower stem between said portion and wall to be clamped therebywhen the member is permitted to resume its initial position.

EDWARD FORD GOELLER.

